Paternity/Partner leave

Congratulations and we wish you all the best for this next chapter.

The University’s paternity/partner leave incorporates all relevant legislation and statutory entitlement with regard to paternity leave and pay.

This procedure applies to all eligible employees of the University. All our policies to support Parents and Carers apply equally to all staff, including those in same sex relationships.

The term ‘partner’ is used by the University in addition to ‘paternity leave’ to recognise that any employee who is the partner of an expectant mother, or a child’s adopter, is entitled to leave under this policy.

If required please seek advice and further details from your Human Resources contact.

Eligibility

You do not need any qualifying service to receive University Paternity/Partner Pay.

However, if you are applying for University Paternity/Partner leave and pay (after a birth) you must:

be an employee of the University and
have, or expect to have, responsibility for the child’s upbringing and
be the biological father of the child or the mother’s husband or partner

if you are applying for University Paternity/Partner leave and pay (after an adoption) you must:

be an employee of the University and
have, or expect to have, responsibility for the child’s upbringing and
be the joint adopter of the child or be the adopter’s husband or partner

Legally there is no distinction between stillbirths after a pregnancy lasting into the 25th week and live births.

Resource:

Cornwall Council have re-launched their Dadpad, a resource for supporting parents.

Paternity leave and your pay

Leave

Paternity leave is up to six weeks' leave. If you are part time then the leave will be pro-rated.

Paternity/partner leave can only be taken from the date of the child’s birth/placement.

Two of the six weeks has to be taken in one block as per statutory requirements. These two weeks leave must be completed by day 56 (after the birth or placement of the baby/child).
The other four weeks can be taken in the first six months after the child’s birth/placement. This leave can be taken in blocks (a minimum of 1 week). All leave must be completed by six months after the birth/placement.

Please note that an employee cannot take paternity/partner leave once a period of ShPL has commenced. You are therefore advised to take all your paternity leave before a period of ShPL.

Pay

If you qualify for University paternity/partner leave you will be eligible for up to six weeks paid leave. You will receive your normal weekly pay for all weeks of paternity/partner leave, which will include your Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) entitlement (depending on eligibility).

If your average weekly wage is below the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) you do not qualify for SPP. You may be able to get income support while on paternity/partner leave - further information is available from your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Fixed term contracts/contract end date

If you are employed on a fixed term contract or your employment ends during your paternity/partner leave, your employment and payment of University paternity/partner pay (UPP) will end on the expiry date of the fixed term contract or end date of the contract, although Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) will continue to be paid, if eligible.

Antenatal/adoption appointments

Employees whose partner is having a baby or are the intended parents in a surrogacy will be allowed paid time off to accompany a pregnant woman to up to 2 antenatal/adoption appointments. This is a right from the first day of employment.

Please try, whenever possible, to arrange appointments at times which cause the minimum disruption to work or other work colleagues. If your manager or supervisor requests it, you should provide a certificate confirming your partner’s pregnancy, appointment card, or some other documentary evidence.

How to apply

To qualify for paid paternity/partner leave you must meet the eligibility requirements and you must:

inform your line manager/Head of Discipline in writing (this can be email) and send a copy to your Human Resources contact, by the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (eg by the time your partner is approximately 25 weeks' pregnant) or no later than seven days after the date on which notification was received from the adoption agency of the match with the child
complete form PD76 at least 28 days before you want your paternity/partner pay to start.
inform your Human Resources contact when the baby has been born or, in the case of adoption, when the child’s placement has commenced for your entitlement to SPP to begin. Please note that you cannot start your paternity/partner leave before your child is born or placed with you.
attach a copy of your partner’s MATB1 or matching certificate, if available

You will be able to change your mind about the date you want your leave to start, providing you inform your Human Resources contact in writing, at least 28 days in advance (where reasonably possible). If your start date changes as your baby has not been born please liaise with HR and your manager.